Microsoft Train Simulator
- April 03, 2001 15:42 PM PST
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Train geeks rejoice! Ride the rails of some of the most famous routes in this hardcore train simulator for the PC.
For too long train enthusiasts have been condemned to the dark basements of their homes pouring blood sweat and tears into huge 3D dioramas and laying down track to build the model railroad of their dreams. Now Microsoft is putting all of that onto the PC. Train lovers eager to sit in the driver's seat of some of the world's most famous trains and navigate some of the most scenic routes will get their chance in Microsoft Train Simulator.The game comes with six of the most famous train routes pre-rendered and ready to ride. The high-speed Amtrak Acela that runs the Northeast Corridor route, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the Flying Scotsman Railways of Great Britain, the Kyushu Railway Company's Hisatsu line on Japan's Kyushu island, the busy Odakyu Electric Railway commuter lines in Japan, and the most famous of them all: The Orient Express that crosses the rugged Austrian Alps.
The precisely modeled train cabs have fully working gauges and controls. You can try your hand at monitoring the complex analog levers and switches of steam locomotives (you'll do everything but shovel the coal yourself), or gear up for some high-tech bullet train on Amtrak's new route. You can take a train out for a simple cruise and let the computer drive or pick from one of many train challenges, such as delivering passengers or cargo on time in bad weather.
The game uses real world terrain information so every hill is authentic. In addition, gamers will be able to create their own track layouts and landscapes, populate them with a slew of different objects like buildings, cars, and trees, and post them on the internet to share with other train enthusiasts.
Pack your bags and don your engineer's cap, Microsoft's Train Simulator pulls out of the station and onto your PC this spring.
